Page 36 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer

As the night wore on, Levi leaned down, his lips brushing my ear."Let's get out of here," he murmured, his voice low and filled with promise.

I nodded, my heart skipping a beat as he led me away from the noise and into the quiet night.The limousine ride faded into the background, my focus entirely on the man beside me.When we arrived at the animal shelter, I blinked in surprise.The place was transformed.Rope lights strung overhead twinkled like stars and the rescued animals watched us with curious eyes from their kennels.

"Levi, what is this?"I asked, my voice soft with wonder.

He turned to me, his blue eyes glowing with a mix of nervousness and admiration."I wanted to do something special," he said, his voice low but steady."Something that felt like us."

I looked around, taking in the scene.The lights glowed soft and golden, the animals wandered lazily or curled up in cozy corners, and a small makeshift altar sat near the center of the shelter.Behind it stood Zane, Garrett, and Dean, their expressions ranging from amused to solemn.Even the animals seemed to sense the significance of the moment, their usual chaos replaced by a quiet, almost reverent stillness.

"You didn't..."I started, my voice catching in my throat.

Levi took my hands in his."Krista," he began."You walked into my life like a storm and turned everything I thought I knew upside down.You've seen me at my worst and somehow still choose to stand by my side.You're my mate, my partner, my forever.I want to make that official."

My breath hitched as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a simple, elegant ring.The golden band and diamond at the center shimmered under the lights.

"Krista Fortune," he said, his voice steady but laced with emotion."Will you marry me?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I nodded, unable to find the words.Levi slid the ring onto my finger.The cool metal was a perfect fit.A chorus of cheers from our audience interrupted our private moment.Zane whooped loudly, and Garrett gave a rare clap.Even Dean offered a crooked smile from the corner.

Levi pulled me into his arms, his lips meeting mine in a kiss that was both tender and possessive.It was a vow to face whatever came next together, as equals, as partners, as mates.

As we broke apart, I looked around at our makeshift family.Zane's infectious grin, Garrett's quiet pride, Dean's reluctant approval, and the animals who had become symbols of Levi's hidden compassion.It was a reflection of the life we'd built, imperfect, chaotic, but filled with love.

"I love you," I whispered, my voice trembling with joy."More than anything."

Levi's chest rumbled.It was a contented hum that echoed through me."I love you too, Krista," he said."Always."

We spent the rest of the evening surrounded by the animals and our friends, the string lights casting a dreamlike glow over everything.Levi and I exchanged vows in a simple, heartfelt ceremony, our words carrying the weight of everything we'd been through together.Zane officiated with his usual flair, cracking jokes that had everyone laughing, while Garrett stood as Levi's witness, his gruff exterior softened by the occasion.Dean, ever the recluse, had somehow managed to program the shelter's speakers to play a soft, instrumental version of our song, a surprise that left me speechless.

As the night wore on, Levi and I danced under the stars, his arms wrapped tightly around me.The animals watched us with curious eyes, their presence a reminder of the sanctuary we'd built.I leaned my head on his shoulder, feeling the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear.

"Do you remember when we first met?"I asked, my voice soft and teasing."You were all growls and scowls, and I thought, 'This guy's going to be a nightmare to work with.'"

Levi chuckled, the sound rumbling through his chest."And now look at you," he said, his tone equally playful."Stuck with me for life."

I pulled back slightly, meeting his gaze."I wouldn't have it any other way."

His expression softened, and he brushed a strand of hair from my face."Neither would I."

We stayed like that for a while, swaying to the music and basking in the quiet joy of the moment.The night was perfect, but it wasn't just about the ceremony or the celebration.It was about everything we'd overcome, the battles we'd fought, the scars we'd healed, and the love we'd found in the process.

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Levi and I sat together on a bench, watching the animals start to stir.Sunny, the one-eyed Chihuahua trotted over, wagging his tail furiously before curling up at our feet.Levi reached down to scratch behind the dog's ears, his expression softer than I'd ever seen it.

"This is it, isn't it?"I said, my voice barely above a whisper."Our future.Together."

Levi turned to me, his blue eyes filled with warmth and certainty."Yeah," he said, his voice steady."This is it.And it's only the beginning."

4 YEARS LATER

The sanctuary was alive with laughter, the kind that twinkled in the afternoon breeze like a song.Levi and I sat on a wooden bench, watching Riley, our three-year-old son, chase Sunny across the grassy field.Over the years, we'd expanded the shelter in the city by adding a sanctuary out in the country.It soon became a haven not just for the animals, but for us.It was a place where we could escape the cameras and noise of the city, and where our little family could grow in peace.

Riley squealed with delight as Sunny darted around him, his chubby little legs trembling with excitement as he stumbled.Levi chuckled beside me, his arm draped over my shoulders."He's got your energy," he said, his voice fond.

"And your stubbornness," I shot back, grinning.

Levi smirked, pressing a kiss to my temple."Fair enough."

The sanctuary had become everything we'd dreamed of and more.It was a place where animals that would have otherwise been forgotten, found a second chance, just like us.Our lives were far from perfect, but they were ours, filled with love, laughter, and the occasional chaos that reminded us of how far we'd come.

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